"ST. CHARLES - Samantha Joos always had a
smile on her face, but her grin was a little wider since the Tuesday before homecoming.
"That was the day the orthodontist removed her braces.
"'She was so proud of that,' her father, Tim, said. 'She had such dimples
and a beautiful smile.'
"'She was always smiling,' her mother, Deb, said. 'She was such a great
spirit.'
"The St. Charles North High School senior was killed Tuesday morning on
her way to school. The Kane County Sheriff's Department said that she lost control of her 1988 Audi on Randall Road, just
south of Crane Road.
"Her car collided head-on with a Coca-Cola delivery truck. Samantha was
driving north on Randall Road, and the truck was headed south. She was pronounced dead at Delnor-Community Hospital in
Geneva.
"Benjamin Henderson III, 27, of 2318 Twilight Drive, Aurora, was driving
the truck. He was treated and released from Delnor, a hospital spokeswoman said.
"No tickets were issued, and police are investigating the accident.
"After the accident, traffic was re-directed to Route 31, causing traffic
snarls for several hours.
"Tim works in Columbus, Ohio, and the family was preparing to move there
after Samantha finished her senior year.
"Samantha, 17, had not picked a college, but she did pick a major. She
wanted to be a social worker.
"'She was going to Ohio next week to scope out colleges,' Tim said. 'She
wanted to be a counselor. She wanted to work with children.'
"Tim said his daughter was against drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. He did
not worry about leaving her home alone when her mother flew to Ohio to visit him.
"'She was always good,' he said. 'I trusted her more than I trusted
myself.'
"Samantha played for the high school's tennis team, and she sang in the
choir. School officials pulled her friends and teammates from their classes Tuesday around lunchtime to share the news
of her death.
"'I told them that this is not what high school is about, but it is what
life is about,' Principal Frank Kesman said. 'I told them that we were there to support them.'
"Some students were released, and others lingered to share stories and
memories of their classmate, he said.
"Counselors from around the school district were called to the high
school to speak with students. Counselors will be available today, as well.
"Samantha's tennis teammates were especially devastated.
"'We're taking it really hard,' teammate Kris Isabelli said. 'She was
always so positive. This is just unbelievable.'
"Junior Megan McCollum said she will always remember playing tennis
against Samantha and her doubles partner Laura Nicholson during practice.
"'I was laughing the whole time,' McCollum said. 'They were serious, but
they knew how to have fun and make it enjoyable. They were always laughing together during practice.'
"Varsity tennis coach Tim Matacio said Samantha was dedicated to tennis
on and off the court.
"'She worked hard during the season and off season to improve,' Matacio
said. 'She embodied the spirit of the team.'
"Samantha was honored last week for being one of three girls to
participate in the tennis program at St. Charles North for all four years. The campus is only 4 years old.
"Samantha and Nicholson took third at No. 4 doubles in last month's
Upstate Eight Conference girls tennis team.
"'She was one of the first 25 girls to try out for tennis at North,'
Matacio said. 'She was full of energy. She was the type of girl that everybody liked. She was a real sweetheart.'
"Samantha was always happy, but Deb recalled a tennis match on a very bad
day. It was raining, and Samantha was tired and worn down.
"'She got upset because she didn't play well,' Deb said. 'It was the
first time the coach saw her like that. Nobody ever saw that part of her. She just wasn't like that.'
"Samantha first became interested in tennis when she was about 10 years
old, her father said. Her siblings - Jason, 26, and Jennifer, 24 - were swimmers.
"'She wanted to forge her own way,' Tim said.
"'She just picked up a racket,' Deb said.
"The same went for Samantha's interest in singing.
"Jason is a music major who plays clarinet and bassoon. Jennifer played
the flute.
"'Sam wanted to be her own person,' Tim said. 'That's why she sang.'
"Samantha also loved to drive her father's red Mazda Miata convertible.
She and her father are members of the Windy City Miata
Club.
"'She loved to race them," Tim said.
"'She loved it when she beat the guys,' Deb said.
"Tim will remember waking her up in the morning before school.
"'I'd walk in and sing, "You are my sunshine," ' he said. 'It was just
one of those moments, one of those moments that you have with your kids that are yours.'
"Funeral arrangements are pending with Yurs Funeral Home in St. Charles."
Kane County Chronicle
